Don Quixote - Front Matter and Chapters I-X Analysis

Explore the enduring relevance and literary significance of Cervantes' Don Quixote in this 57-minute lecture from Yale University's SPAN 300 course. Delve into González Echevarría's analysis of the novel's impact on readers and its role in the creation of modern literature. Examine the distinctions between novel and romance, chivalric and courtly romances, and understand why Don Quixote is considered the first true novel. Investigate the work's precursors in the picaresque genre and the emergence of literary realism. Conclude with an in-depth exploration of the prologue, its intentions, and the concepts of authorship, literary legitimation, and self-invention. Access complete course materials through the Open Yale Courses website for a comprehensive study of this groundbreaking work in Spanish literature.